A coup in Saudi Arabia: Princes arrested 11 including the owner of Twitter

This has not happened, and here again, as you said Chernomyrdin. No other new 37th year? But not in Russia, and in Saudi Arabia, where dozens of Ministers and ex-Ministers, princes of the blood, millionaires and billionaires were detained in the result (so far) bloodless Palace coup last weekend. Deposed and arrested last power Minister, which still remained independent from Salmanaca, as it is called Russian Arabists crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (on the West it is called MBC). Now all law enforcement agencies, the army, the Royal guard service , Ministry of internal Affairs are concentrated in the hands of a young (32 years old) MBS.

MWFpress — The size of the cleaning made a huge impression. Recall that a few weeks ago, in the Kingdom had the first wave of cleansing, when hundreds of intellectuals and Ministers of the clergy behind bars. Now went to the second wave. Detainees are held in a five star hotel “Ritz-Carlton”, and then urgently prescribed the usual guests, like, royalty in prison do not contain. Among those arrested and one of the richest Saudi billionaire Prince al Waleed bin Talal, the owner of factories, Newspapers, steamships, and even Twitter. All of them are accused of corruption, although that means “corruption” in a country where there is no clear separation between personal of the Royal Treasury and the state – is unclear. Corruption is a fashionable accusation, and it sounds clearer than the charges of heresy, witchcraft, and communication with a Japanese intelligence.

It will take some time until we will be able to fully understand the significance and consequences of these events. While visible some of its components. The first and most obvious is the consolidation of power in the hands of MBS. All the princes, claim authority, suspended. Destroyed the power-sharing arrangement between the descendants of the founder of the dynasty of king Saud. Saudi Arabia, and had not the most democratic country in the region, goes to the personal reign, unchecked by any traditional obstacles.

The second component – the support of the American President. The most famous prisoner, Prince Walid, in his time fighting with trump, and called it a “disgrace of America”. Trump responded by calling him “stoned Prince who wants their bribes to put themselves at the service of the American political class”. Claim that Walid personally banned trump’s Twitter a few days ago, although the administration of Twitter has been blamed on the resigned employee. Some of the victims when cleaning was associated with the clan of the Clintons, others with the clan of the Bush, and so some observers see the Saudi revolution – strengthening Pro-trompowsky line in Saudi Arabia. At the request of trump, the Saudis decided to sell the shares of his oil company on the new York stock exchange. MBS itself is considered a zealous supporter of President trump. Moreover, a few days before cleaning Riyadh for a secret visit Jared Kushner, son-in-law and personal adviser of the President of the trump.

The third component is the strengthening of anti-Irantion line. On Saturday, in er Riyadh at the behest of MBS, has resigned, the Prime Minister of Lebanon Hariri, who was considered a puppet of the Saudis. In his statement, allegedly written by the Saudis, he blamed in his resignation – Iran and allied with Iran (Rossii), the Lebanese party “Hezbollah”. At the same time the Saudi air force launched several air strikes on civilian targets in Yemen, where the Kingdom is already two years war against local forces. In response, the Yemenis sent a ballistic missile to the airfield Riyadh, which was able to bring down the Saudi air defense. Immediately the President trump blamed it on Iran. Iran denied any connection with the missile launch.

“Saudi Arabia is trying to put Israel in a war with Iran and “Hezbollah” in Lebanon and Syria,” – said former Ambassador of the USA in Israel, which called on the Israeli leadership not to succumb to from time to time. However, in Israel there are forces who believe that such an opportunity for war sin to miss: “Hamas” in Gaza neutralized by agreement with Ramallah, the US and the Saudis want a conflict with Iran, and now it would be convenient to hit on Hezbollah, if Iran entered – and on Iran. I would like to believe that he will win more culpable and Israel will refrain from escalating the situation.

The situation is really difficult. No evidence of any special public support or sympathy for the Prince Salmanaca. It is unclear whereit will lead the talk about reform, openness and accountability. On his side – the young princes of the principalities of the Persian Gulf, who allegedly directed the development of events in Riyadh. They are activists, they want war, they want to ignore Iran, and to weaken the position of the clergy in their countries.

The recent visit of the Saudi leadership in Moscow suggests that Russia’s current revolution was not a complete surprise. Russia traditionally does not interfere in the internal Affairs of its partners. Saudi king, apparently, assured Putin that the course to restriction of oil production and keeping oil prices will persist and that the Saudis will not take unexpected actions aimed at undermining the legitimate government in Damascus. Words of MBS that some of those arrested were linked to the jihadists can be understood as a confirmation of this course.

Understanding of the process is hampered by the active influence of the Saudi leadership in the Western “think tanks” and the media. They recently spent – or invested – considerable sums of money in the Western system of decision-making and positions. To put it simply – it is difficult today to find in the West are not bribed by the Saudis. And, therefore, their views are hardly objective and quite adequate. It is significant that the West usually responds to the arrest of the fighter for the rights of gays or thieving officials, this time remained silent and refrained from judgment. Also remained silent while tel Aviv, and Tehran limited to generalities about “collapse of the house of Saud”. In Qatar condemned the adventurism of Salmanaca and abetted by some advisers of the President of trump, especially’bannon, who called to hit, not only in Iran but also in Turkey.

If we remember that in these days President of the trump discusses the possibility of a nuclear strike on Pyongyang in Tokyo, we understand that the world is passing through a very critical time, when the Russian leadership must be especially vigilant to stand his watch at the helm of the country.